Daily Inspiration by Dr. Jerry Burton

He Really Did Do It!

“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 4.10

One of the great things that I love about 1 John is that John is writing to Christians and giving us practical advice and encouragement for the journey. I need both of those things – practical advice and encouragement for the journey. If you miss everything else, don’t miss this foundational truth: “not that we loved God, but that He loved us …” God’s love for us is the fountain from which everything else God does for us originates.
What is the ONE thing that God has done for us that demonstrates His unconditional love? John tells us in the last phrase in this verse: God “sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” The very reason for which Jesus came was to die for our sins. His total payment at Calvary does not require anything on my part except to BELIEVE that He did exactly what He came to do. Sometimes our reasoning is so flawed that we think WE must do something to add to what Jesus has already done. Salvation is in the blood, through the blood, by the blood, and NOTHING that you or I could ever do could add one iota to the gift of salvation.
You may already know all of this, but how many people do you know who nothing of God’s love, or think they can never DO enough to earn God’s love, We must remember these two simple but powerful statements: (1) There is NEVER anything that I can DO to make God love me more; and (2) there is nothing I can do to make God love me less. Take this verse at its face value and share this message of hope with those you know who don’t know Jesus. Just My Thoughts …